Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo Elected President of Somalia

February 8, 2017 - Somalian Parliament elected new president on Wednesday. Former Prime Minister Mohamed Abdullahi Farmajo, a dual US-Somali citizen, was elected as the country's new president, according to CNN.

Farmajo was declared victorious after incumbent President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud dropped out of the contest following the second round of voting.

Amid rising security concerns, the 328 members of Parliament met at an air force hangar in Mogadishu to cast their votes.

Mohamud, who took office in 2012, withdrew from the final ballot after losing 184 to 97 to Farmajo in the second round.

Farmajo's victory was greeted by celebratory gunfire in government-controlled areas of the country.

Ethiopian PM Hailemariam Desalegn congratulated the new Somalia president shortly after his election. (CNN)